nivek_wahs
03-12-2007, 03:18 AM
I was too busy yelling and screaming for this game to concentrate and take notes lol... so here is the LeaderPosts view...
http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/news/sports/story.html?id=a71c9c4e-2dce-4da1-bda1-f595cc1cf431&k=9769
Pats beat Warriors to give Pat his first Mayors Cup
Greg Harder, The Leader-Post
Published: Monday, March 12, 2007
Forgive Kyle Deck for a little harmless self-indulgence.
After five long years in the WHL, Deck wasn't about to pass up his first chance to hoist a championship trophy on Saturday night when the Regina Pats skated to a 5-1 win over the Moose Jaw Warriors.
With a sellout crowd of 6,197 looking on at the Brandt Centre, Regina claimed the Mayors Cup trophy by edging Moose Jaw 5-4 in the season series.
The Pats' reward won't be mistaken for a Cup named Stanley, but Deck treated it like the real thing after accepting the trophy on behalf of his teammates.
"I figured I'd give 'er a little lift (over his head) and see what it was like," the Pats' captain said with a grin. "It was fun and the fans liked it."
The other beneficiary is Regina Mayor Pat Fiacco, who will receive the trophy for the first time since he issued a friendly challenge to then-Moose Jaw counterpart Al Schwinghamer in 2003-04. The Warriors captured the first two Mayors Cup titles, followed by a tie in 2005-06.
"Maybe Mayor Pat called some of the guys on his own (to inspire them)," said Pats head coach Curtis Hunt. "The rumour is he's exited to get that (trophy) in his office. We'll have to get it hand delivered this week."
That's one assist the Pats can't wait to dish out.
"It's our first trophy," noted winger Troy Ofukany, who scored the game-winner. "Hopefully there's many more to come."
Regina's bragging rights weren't the only thing on the line Saturday night. The stakes were considerably higher for the Warriors, who are running out of time in their quest for a postseason berth. The defeat cost Moose Jaw a chance to leapfrog the Prince Albert Raiders and grab sole possession of fourth place.
"Regina's horses were stronger than ours tonight," said Warriors head coach Rene Lemire. "Not too many teams come in here and steal points from the Pats. We battled but it wasn't good enough."
Despite the loss, Moose Jaw remains just one point behind the struggling Raiders, who were beaten twice on the weekend. Both teams have three games remaining.
"Nothing changes," added Lemire. "We have to attack our game Wednesday (in Saskatoon) with everything we have. There's nothing else we can do."
The Warriors started well on Saturday but couldn't sustain it.
Jordan Knackstedt opened the scoring on a two-man advantage, blowing a one-timer from the slot through the outstretched pads of goaltender Tommy Tartaglione.
Regina's Kyle Ross tied it up midway through the second period on an outstanding short-handed effort. Ofukany created a turnover in the neutral zone and found Ross, who picked up the puck just inside Moose Jaw's blueline, flew past defenceman Travis Harmonic and went upstairs on Joey Perricone.
Ofukany gave Regina the lead with 2:26 left in the second frame when he banged home a rebound from Ross.
Regina pulled away on third-period goals by linemates Garrett Festerling, Jordan Eberle and Michael MacAngus. Tartaglione finished with 20 saves, winning for the ninth time in 10 home games.
Perricone made 27 saves in a losing cause.
"It was a game where we had to challenge our guys and I felt they responded very well," said Hunt, whose team won its sixth straight on home ice. "(It was important to) raise the level of our game and understand this was going to be as close to a playoff game that we've had all year. Whether that Cup was in the back of their minds or not, maybe. Maybe we'll take it with us (in the playoffs) because we played very, very well those last two periods."
EXTRAS: It's official. Regina and Swift Current will meet in the first round of the playoffs after the Broncos clinched third place Sunday with a 2-1 win over Prince Albert ... Knackstedt extended his points streak to 14 games ... Pats RW Brett Leffler was given the night off to rest a sore knee ... Regina's next action is Wednesday in P.A.
© The Leader-Post (Regina) 2007
http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/news/sports/story.html?id=a71c9c4e-2dce-4da1-bda1-f595cc1cf431&k=9769
Pats beat Warriors to give Pat his first Mayors Cup
Greg Harder, The Leader-Post
Published: Monday, March 12, 2007
Forgive Kyle Deck for a little harmless self-indulgence.
After five long years in the WHL, Deck wasn't about to pass up his first chance to hoist a championship trophy on Saturday night when the Regina Pats skated to a 5-1 win over the Moose Jaw Warriors.
With a sellout crowd of 6,197 looking on at the Brandt Centre, Regina claimed the Mayors Cup trophy by edging Moose Jaw 5-4 in the season series.
The Pats' reward won't be mistaken for a Cup named Stanley, but Deck treated it like the real thing after accepting the trophy on behalf of his teammates.
"I figured I'd give 'er a little lift (over his head) and see what it was like," the Pats' captain said with a grin. "It was fun and the fans liked it."
The other beneficiary is Regina Mayor Pat Fiacco, who will receive the trophy for the first time since he issued a friendly challenge to then-Moose Jaw counterpart Al Schwinghamer in 2003-04. The Warriors captured the first two Mayors Cup titles, followed by a tie in 2005-06.
"Maybe Mayor Pat called some of the guys on his own (to inspire them)," said Pats head coach Curtis Hunt. "The rumour is he's exited to get that (trophy) in his office. We'll have to get it hand delivered this week."
That's one assist the Pats can't wait to dish out.
"It's our first trophy," noted winger Troy Ofukany, who scored the game-winner. "Hopefully there's many more to come."
Regina's bragging rights weren't the only thing on the line Saturday night. The stakes were considerably higher for the Warriors, who are running out of time in their quest for a postseason berth. The defeat cost Moose Jaw a chance to leapfrog the Prince Albert Raiders and grab sole possession of fourth place.
"Regina's horses were stronger than ours tonight," said Warriors head coach Rene Lemire. "Not too many teams come in here and steal points from the Pats. We battled but it wasn't good enough."
Despite the loss, Moose Jaw remains just one point behind the struggling Raiders, who were beaten twice on the weekend. Both teams have three games remaining.
"Nothing changes," added Lemire. "We have to attack our game Wednesday (in Saskatoon) with everything we have. There's nothing else we can do."
The Warriors started well on Saturday but couldn't sustain it.
Jordan Knackstedt opened the scoring on a two-man advantage, blowing a one-timer from the slot through the outstretched pads of goaltender Tommy Tartaglione.
Regina's Kyle Ross tied it up midway through the second period on an outstanding short-handed effort. Ofukany created a turnover in the neutral zone and found Ross, who picked up the puck just inside Moose Jaw's blueline, flew past defenceman Travis Harmonic and went upstairs on Joey Perricone.
Ofukany gave Regina the lead with 2:26 left in the second frame when he banged home a rebound from Ross.
Regina pulled away on third-period goals by linemates Garrett Festerling, Jordan Eberle and Michael MacAngus. Tartaglione finished with 20 saves, winning for the ninth time in 10 home games.
Perricone made 27 saves in a losing cause.
"It was a game where we had to challenge our guys and I felt they responded very well," said Hunt, whose team won its sixth straight on home ice. "(It was important to) raise the level of our game and understand this was going to be as close to a playoff game that we've had all year. Whether that Cup was in the back of their minds or not, maybe. Maybe we'll take it with us (in the playoffs) because we played very, very well those last two periods."
EXTRAS: It's official. Regina and Swift Current will meet in the first round of the playoffs after the Broncos clinched third place Sunday with a 2-1 win over Prince Albert ... Knackstedt extended his points streak to 14 games ... Pats RW Brett Leffler was given the night off to rest a sore knee ... Regina's next action is Wednesday in P.A.
© The Leader-Post (Regina) 2007